Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-10-28


IS gloomy; her age foIblds that for she Is
Young still-nOt i've and twenty, Mrs.
llildreth says-and youth has IA recuper-
alive power which viii struggle back 20
the sunshine, however crushed 10y SORROW,
Yet there is "A seriousness in her mirth.
At least | think so, and it suits well with
her stately beauty.
The current Of nm emotion which
recognize as love hurrics me on. VIII
Mrs. Bristowe consent TO he my wife, |
propose 10 put the question To the test
this very evening. 1t may be that shall
end the present narrative with Margaret
reply.
Now for my third reverie picture. The
scene is n metropolitan railway station.
The place is thrOnCcd with very various
sorts and conditions of men, for dctach-
ments OF the brave fellows who marched
20 relieve GordOn-aud, alasl marched in
vain-arc arriving, aud the London crowd
is there To welcome them. / am ten min
utcs early for the train / wish to
catch, and the departure platform
seems almost deserted 10y compari-
son with the stir and hustle else
where. | stand idly by and watch n body
Of the bronZcd heroes file past on the OPP
positc side of the narrow cutting. Those
round me set Up a cheer, in which ! hcsi-
tate t. join; for do | not belong 10 those
who are the subjects Of the ovations
Their dangers and priyations | have
shared. | am not quite alone in my
silence. There is at my left hand an old
man, who stands rigid rs II statue. but
with eyes blazing with strange, fiery
eagcrness rs the men gather into military
order and tramp away through the station
Ia L n l,.fp .otsli.
rades; and hanging upon his arm is
woman in black, thiclly yelled
perhaps il was mistake, AMI IL was
some one like John at little distance,
but not John himself" says the father, as
| instantly elect 10 believe him The tones
have in them such n depth Of sadness and
vain regret that | unconsclOusY fall 10
fluayins tns speaker . 1aCe. II IL "a
striking and noble ore, though there are
signs that both pride and passion have
done work thereupon with their ruthless
craving tools. As | watch there comes
% me the conviction that these Inca
ments are not wholly strange; yet | am
baflled 10 discover any basis for the curl
Gus fancy Of familiarity.
His companion murmurs something
'rhich the shrek Of whistle causes me
TO lose las if had the remotest right to
pay tue tANt~uIpplcIl.
"Ah, John! Can he not trust me 10
forgive him everyhingi' the old man an
sWors.
"This is your train, ci,. Any luggage"
saunter lesnrey OF i'm the rear II the
Irrter | have tipped, ind the episode
sc1rcc worthy Of such dcsirnation--is
al am end. Lut that fragment Of couvcr-
sdtion comes Lack ~ this hour as Il II
we're even now ringing i'm my ears. and ]
an trying 10 account for the enduring ma
ture of these rccollcctions as I weave
them together.
paused at the preceding paragraph
three hours ago, and took my hat and
ovcgcout-for il j. a stormy October night
and went 10 Mostyn, as the Uildrcth's
home is called. Mrs Bristovc's visit
draws 10 a close She has father stay
ing with friends in n southern cathedral
city, and She has bat fulfilled an old pro
mise 10y thUs invading the Fen country
Parent ana daughter return simultaneous
ly, or as nearly Is they can Contryc il, 10
their London residence Further dclay on
my part might have been disastrous BY
which hint lave perhaps revealed that |
90 not now write as a disappointed man.
Yet there was hazard and uncertainty.
Mrs. llildrcth had more than q suspicion
~ nay crraud, and contriyed, with woman
~ deNtcrity, to leave Margaret and me 10
totc-a-tctc. a service for which | shat!
ever owe my partner wife debt If graft
tude. Hildrcth was attending old Sir
Lucas Gauuithornc at Gamble Manor ioi
govt. had counted upon this; though,
had he been at home, my friend and col
league, ! make no doubt, would have
caught a peculiar twinkle in his wifcs
cyc--or have practiccd the art Of divna.
ton for himself-and have remembered
neglected call
! am not going 70 enter into detaila Let
it suffice that offered my hand to Mrs
Bristowe-my heart was hers already
and was refused. But she admitted that
70 some extent she reciprocated my feel
in-- Of regard and affection; whercupon
piucScd up courage to inquire into the
reasons Of Ter decision
During the course Of the conversation
that cn-ifed between lis, il was borne in
upOn me more and more that Margaret
was thc girl WHO had suffered So crushing
% discontinue i'm the jewelers. shop at
Rcu'Ord. J was determined i'm some way
10 have thi, question resolved before wish
ing her farewell. But Size forcstallcd my
purpose
Our acquaintance has been agreeable
80 me also, confess shc said Have
you any idea, Mr. Erutou. that il was not
iu ihi~ room that We mct-or rather were
lhrcNn into accidental proximity for the
iir ut The .ccoud time
started ar ;bcsr llrt WGtde Was
Marurct the yelled lady II tho railway
platforms Il must acknowledge that !
ann prepared TO hear IT, answered
Our eyes met. and there was the bond
Id. 4